Blue Monday

I'm watcing PTI...I really didn't want to because I'm still recovering from the Colts game from yesterday.

But then...Tony Kornheiser, when talking about the game, uttered this..."Peyton Manning at some point becomes Greg Maddux. That he's one of the greatest regular season pitchers of all-time but you get to the postseason and the magic just isn't there."

As many as you can guess...I was literally screaming at the TV. It's bad enough that I have to relive the Colts loss but when Greg Maddux gets thrown into the discussion...well...I just couldn't let that pass.

I don't even know where to start. Manning can be blamed for some of the Colts pass playoffs disappointments but I don't think Sunday's game was entirely Manning's fault. The bottom line...is that the Colts defense played their worst game of the season. It was like the reverse of last year when the Colts defense went from zero to hero...seemingly over night. In this case it went from great to crappy. Granted the Manning led offense did have three gut-wrenching turnovers while in or around the red zone but only one of those could be attributed to a poor play by Manning. The bottom line is that the Colts made too many mistakes and that is why they and why deserve to lose...but to insinuate that the Colts loss was do to Manning' s poor play is simply untrue.

But let's get to the rest of what Kornheiser said...because really...if I had a beer bottle in my head it might have been launched at the TV.

There is the perception that in the playoffs Greg Maddux is not Greg Maddux. This is mainly due to the fact that his career postseason record is a lackluster 11-14. Admittingly that is zippy. But let's look at some other numbers. Maddux's postseason ERA is 3.34...slightly higher than his career ERA of 3.11. Let's see how that stacks up against Maddux's peers. Off the top of my head I've compared Maddux's postseason ERA to eight other contemporary pitchers (and their postseason ERA's) who have pitched multiple post season games. Here is how they rank:

1. Curt Schilling 2.23
2. John Smoltz 2.65
3. Greg Maddux 3.34
4. Pedro Martinez 3.40
5. Mike Mussina 3.42
Tom Glavine 3.42
7. Randy Johnson 3.50
8. Roger Clemens 3.75
9. Andy Petite 3.96

Not surprisingly...perceived big game pitchers, Schilling and Smoltz, lead the way. But wait...who's second...oh yeah...Mr. Choke Artist, Greg Maddux. Sometimes perception is right...like with Schilling and Smoltz...and sometimes it isn't.

But let's take it one step further. There's no bigger stage than the World Series. Let's see how ERA stacks up. I've only included those pitchers who have pitched in multiple World Series's (this eliminated Johnson and Martinez).

1. Schilling 2.06
2. Maddux 2.09
3. Clemens 2.37
4. Smotlz 2.47
5. Glavine 2.47
6. Mussina 3.00
7. Petitte 3.96

Mmmm...Maddux is only three-hundredth of a point behind Schilling, who is regarded as possibly the best big game pitcher of his generation. Whereas Schilling's record is 4-1 all time in the World Series...Maddux's is a mediocre 2-3. I'm not suggesting that Maddux has been better than Schilling or really anybody on the list. My point is the perception that Maddux does not carry his regular season success or "magic" to the postseason is complete bull crap. Here's a novel concept...other factors like not being able to hit the ball...not being able to field the ball...or not being able to hold a lead...influence the outcome of games. In my estimation Maddux has pitched pretty darn good in the postseason and certainly does not deserve the label of being a great regular season player who can't get it done in the post season.